Barabbas and the Scapegoat (Day of Atonement and the Sacrifice of Jesus)

A “type” in the Bible is picture in the Old Testament that foreshadows a fulfillment in the New Testament.

THE TYPE: Two Goats

The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:1-34), also known as Yom Kippur, was a day when the sins of Israel were covered for one year. Yom means “the day” and Kippur means “to cover.”

The High Priest offered a sacrifice for his own sins and then selected two young male goats which he presented to the Lord. He drew lots, and one lot determined which one would be “the Lords goat” that would be killed, and the other would become “the scapegoat” that would be set free. (Leviticus 16:7-10)

The High Priest tied a scarlet rope made of wool around the neck of the Lord's goat and another scarlet rope around the horns of the scapegoat.

Isaiah 1:18 explains, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.”

The High Priest killed the Lord's goat, caught its blood in a bowl, and took the blood into the Holy of Holies in the Temple where he sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat, which was the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. (Leviticus 16:15-20)

He then went to the scapegoat, laid his hands on its head, and confessed the sins of the people. A designated person led the scapegoat out of the temple and into the wilderness where it was released (Leviticus 16:21-22).

The scapegoat represented escaping punishment for sins. Because “the Lord’s goat” was killed as a sacrifice for sins, the “scapegoat” was set free.

There were two goats, but just one offering. It takes both goats to understand what God wants us to see. Killing a goat meant that someone or something had to die for their sins. The death of the Lord's goat meant that God will accept a substitute for our sins.

The second goat demonstrated the need to remove guilt. The High Priest laid his bloody hands on the scapegoat and confessed the people's sins, which the goat carried into the wilderness where they were forgotten. (Continued on page 2)

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The Fulfillment: Jesus and Barabbas

This choosing of two goats, killing one, and letting the other go, was played out when Pontius Pilate brought two men before the multitude. He asked for one to be killed and the other to be set free.

A scarlet rope was put on the Lord’s goat. A scarlet robe was put on Jesus (Matt. 27:28)

Two men stood before Pontius Pilate. One was Jesus, the Christ. The other was Barabbas. The name Barabbas means “son of abba” or “son of the father.” Some early Syriac manuscripts of Matthew 27:17 record that Barabbas' name was “Jesus bar Abbas” or “Jesus, son of the father.”

It was the custom to release one prisoner at the Passover. Barabbas was guilty of murder and sentenced to die for his crimes (Mark 15:7). Jesus was accused of being the King of the Jews. Pontius Pilate brought Jesus and Barabbas before the crowd and asked which one they wanted released. The people chose Barabbas.

LORD’S GOAT SCAPEGOAT JESUS BARABBAS

Jesus was sacrificed like the Lord's goat. He became our substitute and died in our place. Barabbas was set free like the scapegoat. This is a picture of Jesus dying for our sins and us walking away free.

After the High Priest released the scapegoat he washed his hands (Ex. 30:19, Lev. 16:24). Do you remember what Pontius Pilate did when he released Barabbas? He washed his hands. (Matt. 27:24)

The High Priest sprinkled the blood of the Lord’s goat in the Holy Place on earth. Jesus, our High Priest, sprinkled His own blood in the Holy Place in Heaven (Heb. 9:11-12, 12:24)

The sins of Israel were forgiven for one year. (Leviticus 16:34). Through Jesus, our sins are forgiven forever. God said, “I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)

Innocent Jesus took the blame, and we are like the guilty Barabbas who just walked away free.

And now you know why two goats were offered on the Day of Atonement.

Click here to read about receiving forgiveness of your sins.

Making Life Count Ministries P.O. Box 680174 Prattville, Alabama 36068 www.makinglifecount.net 2